Boot partitions in memory devices and systems

Abstract

The present disclosure includes boot partitions in memory devices and systems, and methods associated therewith. One or more embodiments include an array of memory cells, wherein the array includes a boot partition and a number of additional partitions. Sequential logical unit identifiers are associated with the additional partitions, and a logical unit identifier that is not in sequence with the sequential logical unit identifiers is associated with the boot partition.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A memory device, comprising:
 an array of memory cells, wherein:
 the array includes a boot partition and a number of additional partitions; 
 sequential logical unit identifiers are associated with the additional partitions, wherein the sequential logical unit identifiers include all integers from 0 to N−1, inclusive, wherein N is equal to the number of additional partitions; and 
 a logical unit identifier that is not in sequence with the sequential logical unit identifiers and is an integer larger than N is associated with the boot partition. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The memory device of  claim 1 , wherein the boot partition includes boot code executable by a host. 
     
     
       3. The memory device of  claim 2 , wherein the memory device is configured to send the boot code to the host responsive to receiving a command from the host addressed to the logical unit identifier associated with the boot partition. 
     
     
       4. The memory device of  claim 1 , wherein the boot partition is a logical unit. 
     
     
       5. The memory device of  claim 1 , wherein the boot partition is a subdivision of a logical unit. 
     
     
       6. The memory device of  claim 1 , wherein the boot partition includes a number of logical units. 
     
     
       7. The memory device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 sequential logical unit numbers are associated with the additional partitions; and 
 a logical unit number that is not in sequence with the sequential logical unit numbers is associated with the boot partition. 
 
     
     
       8. A memory device, comprising:
 an array of memory cells, wherein the array includes a number of boot partitions and a number of additional partitions; and 
 control circuitry coupled to the array, wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 associate logical unit identifiers with the additional partitions, wherein the logical unit identifiers are within a range of logical unit identifiers, wherein the range of logical unit identifiers includes all integers from 0 to N−1, inclusive, wherein N is equal to the number of additional partitions; and 
 associate a logical unit identifier with one of the boot partitions, wherein the logical unit identifier is outside the range of logical unit identifiers associated with the additional partitions and is an integer larger than N. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The memory device of  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 assign a unique logical unit identifier to each of the additional partitions, wherein the assigned logical unit identifiers are within the range of logical unit identifiers; and 
 assign the logical unit identifier to one of the boot partitions, wherein the assigned logical unit identifier is outside the range of logical unit identifiers assigned to the additional partitions. 
 
     
     
       10. The memory device of  claim 8 , wherein the memory device is a flash memory device. 
     
     
       11. The memory device of  claim 8 , wherein the number of boot partitions are physical partitions. 
     
     
       12. The memory device of  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 associate logical unit numbers with the additional partitions, wherein the logical unit numbers are within a range of logical unit numbers; and 
 associate a logical unit number with one of the boot partitions, wherein the logical unit number is outside the range of logical unit numbers associated with the additional partitions. 
 
     
     
       13. The memory device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the array includes more than one boot partition; and 
 the boot partitions include different boot code executable by a host. 
 
     
     
       14. The memory device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the array includes more than one boot partition; and 
 the boot partitions include identical boot code executable by a host. 
 
     
     
       15. A method for operating a memory device, comprising:
 associating sequential logical unit identifiers with a number of partitions in the memory device, wherein the sequential logical unit identifiers include all integers from 0 to N−1, inclusive, wherein N is equal to the number of partitions; and 
 associating a logical unit identifier with a boot partition in the memory device, wherein the logical unit identifier associated with the boot partition is not in sequence with the sequential logical unit identifiers associated with the number of partitions and is an integer larger than N. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 associating sequential logical unit identifiers with the number of partitions includes assigning, in a configuration descriptor list associated with the memory device, the sequential logical unit identifiers to the number of partitions; and 
 associating the logical unit identifier with the boot partition includes assigning, in the configuration descriptor list, the logical unit identifier to the boot partition. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method includes booting a host device using the boot partition and the logical unit identifier associated with the boot partition. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method includes performing programming, sensing, and erase operations on the memory device using the number of partitions and the sequential logical unit identifiers associated with the number of partitions. 
     
     
       19. A method for operating a memory device, comprising:
 associating logical unit identifiers with a number of partitions in the memory device, wherein the logical unit identifiers are within a range of logical unit identifiers, wherein the range of logical unit identifiers includes all integers from 0 to N−1, inclusive, wherein N is equal to the number of partitions; and 
 associating a unique logical unit identifier with a boot partition in the memory device, wherein the unique logical unit identifier associated with the boot partition is outside the range of logical unit identifiers associated with the number of partitions and is an integer larger than N. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method includes receiving a command addressed to the unique logical unit identifier associated with the boot partition. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method includes sending boot code to a host responsive to receiving the command. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method includes pre-assigning the unique logical unit identifier as a default logical unit identifier to be associated with the boot partition. 
     
     
       23. A system, comprising:
 a memory device having an array of memory cells, wherein:
 the array includes a number of boot partitions and a number of additional partitions; 
 sequential logical unit identifiers are associated with the additional partitions, wherein the sequential logical unit identifiers include all integers from 0 to N−1, inclusive, wherein N is equal to the number of additional partitions; and 
 a logical unit identifier that is not in sequence with the sequential logical unit identifiers and is an integer larger than N is associated with one of the boot partitions; and 
 
 a host coupled to the memory device, wherein the host is aware of the logical unit identifier associated with the one of the boot partitions. 
 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the host includes a memory; and 
 the memory includes the logical unit identifier associated with the one of the boot partitions. 
 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the host is configured to use the logical unit identifier associated with the one of the boot partitions to access the one of the boot partitions during a booting operation. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the logical unit identifier associated with the one of the boot partitions is a unique logical unit identifier. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the one of the boot partitions is not visible to a user of the host. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the logical unit identifier associated with the one of the boot partitions is a default logical unit identifier pre-assigned to the one of the boot partitions. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the one of the boot partitions includes boot code for the system. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the host is configured to select the one of the boot partitions; and 
 the memory device is configured to associate the logical unit identifier that is not in sequence with the sequential logical unit identifiers with the one of the boot partitions responsive to the selection of the one of the boot partitions. 
 
     
     
       31. A system, comprising:
 a memory device having an array of memory cells, wherein:
 the array includes a boot partition and a number of additional partitions; 
 logical unit identifiers are associated with the additional partitions, wherein the logical unit identifiers are within a range of logical unit identifiers, wherein the range of logical unit identifiers includes all integers from 0 to N−1, inclusive, wherein N is equal to the number of additional partitions; and 
 a logical unit identifier is associated with the boot partition, wherein the logical unit identifier is outside the range of logical unit identifiers associated with the additional partitions and is an integer larger than N; and 
 
 a host coupled to the memory device, wherein the host is aware of the logical unit identifier associated with the boot partition. 
 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the host is configured to send a command to the memory device addressed to the logical unit identifier associated with the boot partition responsive to an event of the system; and 
 the memory device is configured to send the boot code to the host responsive to receiving the command. 
 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 32 , wherein the event is a power-on of the system. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 32 , wherein the event is a reset of the system. 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 32 , wherein the command is a boot command.